Discovery and Characterization of Intercondylar Transphyseal Complexes and their Oncological Significance in Transphyseal Extension of Pediatric Osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether there exist undiscovered transphyseal vasculature-canal compound structures in immature femurs and tibias, and reveal their potential oncological impact. METHODS: This investigation was divided into a morphological study and a clinical study. In the morphological part, a new-identified anatomic structure was investigated by using radiographical, anatomical, and histological methodologies. Twenty-eight 1-mm-slice thickness magnetic resonance images of pediatric knees were generated and 10 pediatric knees were dissected to verify the existence and universality, observe the radiographic and anatomic characteristics, and determined the located region of this structure. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunofluorescence, and angiography procedures were performed to illustrate its histological feature, molecular identification, and vascular origination, respectively. In the clinical part, 38 pediatric osteosarcoma patients were enrolled from January 2014 to December 2020. A descriptive clinical study including 13 typical participants was conducted to investigate the oncological significance of this new-identified structure. Meanwhile, the discrepancy in transphyseal osteosarcoma extension between different physeal regions was evaluated in a cross-sectional study. RESULTS: In the morphological study, we discovered a new-found vasculature-canal compound structure, intercondylar transphyseal complex (ITC), which originated from the middle genicular vessels, traversed the whole epiphysis, and breached the intact open physis in the immature proximal tibia or distal femur. The components of ITC included the juxta-articular, epiphyseal, and transphyseal segments of vessels, the canals that traverse the entire epiphysis and physis and enclosed the vessels, vascular foramina on articular facet and foramina-covered synovium. Depending on the location, ITCs can be divided into three types: femoral ITC, anterior tibial ITC, and posterior tibial ITC. Clinically, the ITC may facilitate intercondylar transphyseal sarcomatous dissemination without damaging the adjacent physeal cartilage. Compared to bilateral condylar physes, more osteosarcomas transgressed the open growth plates through intercondylar regions in which ITC was located (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: As the "gap" on intact open physis, ITC, which is a new-identified compound structure in intercondylar regions of immature femur or tibia, may promote intercondylar transphyseal tumor extension. Moreover, the identification and characterization of ITC subvert some traditional comprehensions about physis and may provide novel perspectives for pediatric osteosarcomas.

Efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery versus craniotomy for supratentorial hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH) is a potentially life-threatening neurological condition with an extremely high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, neuroendoscopy has been used to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the choice of neuroendoscopic surgery versus craniotomy for patients with intracerebral hemorrhages is controversial. AIM: We conducted this meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery compared with craniotomy in patients with supratentorial hypertensive ICH. METHODS: A systematic electronic search was conducted of online electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library updated on December 2017. The meta-analysis only included randomized controlled studies. RESULTS: Three randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis of death showed that neuroendoscopic surgery decreased the rate of death when compared with craniotomy (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.26-1.29; p = .18). The pooled result of complications indicated that neuroendoscopic surgery has a tendency toward lower complications (RR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.28-0.49; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that neuroendoscopic surgery has lower complications, but no superior advantages in morbidity rates. Since the advantage of neuroendoscopic surgery has been performed in some area, the continuation of multi-center comparative investigation with craniotomy may be necessary. Moreover, some efforts need to be taken in selecting appropriate patients with different treatments.

Correlations between serum uric acid level and disease activity, intrathecal inflammation reactivity in patients with multiple sclerosis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the correlations between serum uric acid (UA) levels and the clinical and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters of multiple sclerosis (MS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The medical reports of 47 MS patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital during 2008 and 2010 were reviewed. And 49 age- and gender-matched cerebral infarction patients were enrolled as control. The mean serum UA level of the MS patients was compared with that of the control group. The correlations between the UA levels and the clinical parameters including gender, disease duration, relapse rate, and disease disabilities as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale score, were explored. Forty-one patients had CSF examinations. The correlations between the UA levels and the CSF parameters reflecting inflammation and tissue damage, including CSF protein, white blood cell count, oligoclonal band, 24-hour IgG index, and myelin basic protein, were also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean serum UA level in the MS patients was lower than that in the control group (247.75±52.59 µmol/L vs. 277.94±74.33 µmol/L, P=0.025) and inversely correlated with the relapse rate (P=0.049). MS patients with lower serum UA levels tended to have higher white blood cell counts and myelin basic protein level. But there was no correlation between CSF protein levels (r=0.165, P=0.273), white blood cell counts (r=-0.051, P=0.732), IgG index (r=0. 045, P=0.802), or myelin basic protein level (r=-0.248, P=0.145) and the serum UA level, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In MS patients, UA levels might partly reflect the extent of disability and inflammation.</p>

Regulatory effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the expression of sensory neuropeptide mRNAs in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons with excitotoxicity induced by glutamate.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on the expression of preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA encoding substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) mRNA in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons with excitotoxicity induced by glutamate (Glu). METHODS: DRGs were dissected from embryonic day 15 Wistar rats. DRG neurons were dissociated and cultured for 48 h and then exposed to Glu (0.2 mmol/L) or Glu (0.2 mmol/L) plus IGF-1 (5 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L and 20 nmol/L) for 12 h. The DRG neurons in control group were exposed to only growth media throughout the experiment. After that, the living DRG neurons were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope and microphotographs were taken. The expression levels of PPT and CGRP mRNAs were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: IGF-1 could inhibit Glu-induced shortening of neurite. Besides, IGF-1 could significantly increase the levels of PPT mRNA and CGRP mRNA in primary cultured DRG neurons with Glu-induced excitotoxicity, in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: IGF-1 may exert neuroprotective effects on DRG neurons against Glu-induced excitotoxicity, probably through regulating the expression levels of PPT and CGRP mRNAs.

[Effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on the cultured oligodendrocyte precursor cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LPFA) on the survival and process growth of the brain hippocampal Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC). METHOD: Two kinds of cultured neural progenitor cells isolated from adult rat hippocampus were used. After arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) treatment respectively, the activity of cells were determined by Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, and the quantitative measurements of the cell processes were done after the fluorescent immune cells staining. RESULTS: EPA, DHA and AA showed similar trends to increase the cell numbers when the concentrations were high (50 micromol/L, P<0.05), but only EPA and DHA elongated the process of OPC significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: omega-3 LPFA (EPA and DHA) could enhance the survival and process growth of OPC.

[Comparison of Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 genes among Campylobacter jejuni strains].

OBJECTIVE: By sequenceing the Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 gene of Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) strains associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), features of Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 gene were studied. Results were compared with the C. jejuni strain NCTC11168, to find the mutations in sequence of C. jejuni which inducing GBS and their polygenetic relationship was analyzed. METHODS: Three GBS-associated C. jejuni strains were isolated from stools of GBS patients from Hebei province who had been diagnosed as clinical AMAN pattern and electrophysiological tests were performed. After distilling and sequencing Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 genes, results were spliced and assembled into a complete sequence by the terminals overlapped with each other. Sequences of Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 genes were compared with NCTC11168, to find the mutations and gene feature. RESULTS: The Cj1136, Cj1138 and Cj1139 gene of the three GBS- associated C. jejuni strains were composed by 1173 base pairs, 1170 base pairs, 912 base pairs respectively. The alignment with the related sequence of NCTC11168 showed that there were two same mutations in the Cj1138 gene of the three C. jejuni stains. Data from phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the three C. jejuni strains were genetically closed to NCTC11168, with the biggest phylogenetic distance between the three of them as 2.1%. CONCLUSION: When compared with NCTC11168 the Cj1138 gene of the three GBS-associated C. jejuni strains had the same mutations which might be related to the development of GBS. Relation between the variation and GBS-pathogenesis remained to be confirmed. The mutations found in the three C. jejuni strains established the foundation for exploring the biological characteristics of GBS-associated C. jejuni strains and demonstrated that the GBSassociated C. jejuni strains of Hebei province having its regional features.

Exogenous galanin regulates capsaicin-evoked substance P release from primary cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of exogenous galanin on capsaicin-evoked substance P (SP) release from primary cultured embryonic rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. METHODS: DRG was dissected out from embryonic 15-day-old Wistar rat and cultured as dissociated cells for 2 days then exposed to galanin (1 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L, 100 nmol/L). After 4 days incubation with exogenous galanin, the levels of mRNAs for SP and vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) and protein for VR1 were estimated by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Basal SP release and capsaicin-evoked SP release levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: The amount of VR1 mRNA and VR1 protein expression and capsaicin-evoked SP release in cultured DRG neurons increased significantly after incubation with exogenous galanin compared with control DRG neurons at the same time point, whereas the amount of SP mRNA and basal SP release were not affected after incubation with exogenous galanin. DISCUSSION: Exogenous galanin may promote capsaicin-evoked SP release from primary cultured DRG neurons. The elevation of the levels of VR1 mRNA and VR1 protein induced by exogenous galanin implicated that VR1 may be involved in the mechanisms of SP release evoked by capsaicin.

Regulatory effect of nerve growth factor on release of substance P in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons of rat.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the regulatory effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on basal and capsaicin-induced release of neuropeptide substance P (SP) in primary cultured embryonic rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. METHODS: DRGs were dissected from 15-day-old embryonic Wistar rats. DRG neurons were dissociated and cultured, and then exposed to different concentrations of NGF (10 ng/mL, 30 ng/mL, or 100 ng/mL) for 72 h. The neurons cultured in media without NGF served as control. RT-PCR were used for detecting the mRNAs of SP and vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) in the DRG neurons. The SP basal and capsaicin (100 nmol/L)-induced release in the culture were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). RESULTS: SP mRNA and VR1 mRNA expression increased in primary cultured DRG neurons in a dose-dependent manner of NGF. Both basal release and capsaicin-evoked release of SP increased in NGF-treated DRG neurons compared with in control group. The capsaicin-evoked release of SP also increased in a dose-dependent manner of NGF. CONCLUSION: NGF may promote both basal release and capsaicin-evoked release of SP. NGF might increase the sensitivity of nociceptors by increasing the SP mRNA or VR1 mRNA.

[Change of hippocampal NMDA receptor and emotional behavior and spatial learning and memory in status epilepticus rat model].

AIM: SD rats were utilized for the purpose of the exploration of effects of status epilepticus (SE) on their emotional behavior, spatial learning and memory, and explorating its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Forty maturity male SD rats, weighing (200 +/- 20) g were divided randomly and equally into SE group (SG) and normal control group (NG). The SG rats were induced by Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and the control animals received a saline (0.9%) solution. The change of emotional behavior in two groups were tested in elevated plus maze. Furthermore, Morris water maze was applied to evaluate the effects by SE on spatial learning and memory in rats. At the same time, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR1 subunit mRNA in the hippocampus was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In elevated plus test, SE rats increased the times of visits as well as the time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze (P < 0.01). In Morris water maze, the mean escape latency for the SE rats looking for hidden platform in the place navigation test prolonged (P < 0.01). The efficiency of their search strategy was poor (P < 0.05). The swimming time in platform region and the percentage of their swimming time decreased (P < 0.01). The number of times they crossed the platform area decreased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile the expression of NR1 subunit mRNA in hippocampus was lower (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The experimental results showed that SE could result in the change of emotional behavior and damage of spatial learning and memory in rats. NR1 might be involved in the patho- and physiological process in causing these behavioral changes.

Butyrate sensitizes the release of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide evoked by capsaicin from primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether butyrate increases substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) release evoked by capsaicin from primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. METHODS: DRG was dissected out from embryonic 15-day-old Wistar rat and cultured as dissociate cells for 24 h then exposed to butyrate (0.01 mmol/L, 0.1 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L, 10 mmol/L, respectively) for another 48 h. The neurons cultured continuously in media served as normal control. All above cultured samples were processed for detecting expression of mRNA for SP, CGRP and vanilloid receptor 1 (VR1) of DRG neurons by RT-PCR, and VR1 protein expression by Western blot. SP and CGRP basal release levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). After that, the DRG cells for RIA were stimulated by capsaicin (300 nmol/L) for 5 min and the culture media were harvested for detecting SP and CGRP release levels by RIA. The neurons exposed to vehicle solution served as vehicle controls. RESULTS: Exposure of butyrate on DRG neurons at higher concentrations (1 mmol/L, 10 mmol/L) for 48 h increased expression mRNA for SP and CGRP than that at lower concentrations (0.01 mmol/L, 0.1 mmol/L) and normal control (P<0.001). VR1 mRNA and VR1 protein expression increased in a dose-dependent manner after exposure of different concentrations of butyrate. Butyrate did not alter the basal release, significantly enhanced neuropeptide release evoked by capsaicin. SP and CGRP release levels in the culture media exposed by butyrate at higher concentrations (1 mmol/L, 10 mmol/L) for 48 h and then stimulated by capsaicin were higher than that at lower concentrations (0.01 mmol/L, 0.1 mmol/L) (P<0.001). The exposure of vehicle solution did not produce any increase of SP and CGRP release from primary cultured DRG neurons. DISCUSSION: Butyrate may promote the expression of mRNA for SP, CGRP and increase sensitivity of capsaicin on SP and CGRP release from primary cultured rat dorsal root ganglion neurons. The promotion of VR1 mRNA and VR1 protein expression by butyrate implicated that VR1 may be involved in the mechanisms of sensory neuropeptide release evoked by capsaicin.

[Spectrophotometric determination of chondroitin sulfate with victory blue B].

In pH 4.0 acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer solution, cationic dye victory blue B shows an absorption peak at 614 nm, and the absorption peak decreases after it reacts with chondroitin sulfate to form association particles. The decrease in absorption value is linear with chondroitin sulfate concentration in the range of 0. 1-5 microg x mL(-1), and the correlation efficient is 0.9986. The method was applied to the determination of chondroitin sulfate in synthesis samples and real samples with rapidity, simplicity and good accuracy.

[Resonance-scattering spectral determination of H2O2 using rhodamine 6G association particles].

Under the conditions of 0.02 mol x L(-1) HCl-4.0 x 10(-4) mol x L(-1) KI-1.6 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) Mo(VI), there is a fluorescence peak at 540 nm and a synchronous fluorescence peak at 540 nm for Rhodamine 6G (RhG). When there exists H2O2, it reacts with I- to form I3-. RhG and I3- combine to form an ion association particle. The particles exhibit three resonance scattering peaks at 320 nm, 400 and 595 nm respectively. And there is fluorescence quenching at 540 nm. H2O2 concentration in the range of 0.068-34 microg x mL(-1) is proportional to the resonance scattering peak at 400 nm. And a new resonance scattering spectral method has been described for the determination of H2O2 in water samples. The spectral results have verified that the formation of (RhG-I3)n association particles and the interface are the main factor that causes the fluorescence quenching and resonance scattering effects.